Students at Connaught Public School in Collingwood will have the chance to learn how to ride a bike; an opportunity not always afforded to youth in need.
Connaught Public School is ramping up to start registration next week for its new Riding for Focus program, following word last year that they were successful in securing a grant to the tune of about $40,000 to pay for 30 bicycles and helmets. As part of the terms of the grant, Connaught teacher Scott Lintern will be spearheading an after-school program where 30 students will be taught lessons such as how to properly wear a helmet, how to repair a bike and proper bike safety.
The bikes were delivered to the school two weeks ago, and Connaught vice principal Colin McIntosh said he expects the school may have to decide which students are selected for the program based on a lottery system.
“Because we serve a low-income area, a lot of the kids don’t have bikes. It’s more of a luxury,” said McIntosh.
“It’s my philosophy that every kid should learn how to ride a bike.”
McIntosh applied for the grant last year through the Outride – Riding for Focus program based out of California. The program is grounded in research carried out by Outride which highlights the positive benefits of cycling for the social, emotional, and cognitive health of youth.
Connaught is one of 55 schools across North America that were successful in netting the grant; one of only eight Canadian schools. Students grade 5 to 8 will be eligible to participate in the Connaught program.
When he heard the news that his grant application had been successful, McIntosh said he was elated.
“I was on top of the world! Our school struggles,” he said, estimating that many of the students who attend Connaught live below the Canadian low-income threshold.
“I think this will make a huge difference in their lives.”
Squire John’s in Collingwood built the Specialized bikes and have agreed to maintain them moving forward, all free of charge.
Treasurer of the Collingwood Optimist Club Ralph Sneyd was on-hand for the bike reveal at the school on May 8. The club spent about $2,600 on a storage container to house the bikes, which is located in Connaught’s school yard.
“Any kind of new program for youth is a very important thing for us. The opportunity to see something grow in the community for kids is really, what we do,” said Sneyd.
For the time being, the bikes will remain on school property for use of the after-school program. In the future, McIntosh said he’s open to expanding the program in any way the community would like to support it.
“I’m super excited to be able to offer such an amazing program for our students because our students are fabulous kids. We have such an amazing school,” he said. “I’ve had so many kids asking me about it already. I’d like it to be able to get bigger.”
